Recent images circulated from China by Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) sources would indicate that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is evaluating a new 155 mm naval gun, after its presence and integration were detected on a test vessel used by the force. The photograph, which quickly went viral on social media, denotes that this is the largest-caliber naval artillery system developed by China in the modern era, surpassing the current 130 mm standard employed on the most modern Type 052D and Type 055 destroyers.
In detail, the photographs show the system mounted on what appears to be one of the Type 910 experimental vessels used by the Chinese Navy for weapons trials and validation of naval technologies that could be applied to combat units. Although Beijing has not issued official information about the program, the size of the mounting and its configuration suggest that it would be a system oriented toward long-range naval fire support, particularly in amphibious scenarios.
A change of scale in Chinese naval artillery
Currently, the main surface combatants of the Chinese Navy employ the 130mm H/PJ-38 gun as one of their primary armaments. Therefore, a shift to a 155 mm caliber would imply a significant increase in range, projectile weight, and saturation fire capability against coastal targets.
For analysts, this caliber is not coincidental. The 155 mm is the standard in modern heavy land artillery and allows conceptual — and eventually technological — compatibility with precision-guided munitions developed for self-propelled howitzers. In doctrinal terms, a system of this type would reinforce China’s capabilities for landing operations and its continued projection of power along the littoral.
Support for amphibious operations?
For their part, specialized observers point out that the development of a 155 mm naval gun could be linked to the growing priority the PLAN assigns to amphibious operations, especially in the context of scenarios related to Taiwan. For this purpose, a system of these characteristics would allow, on the one hand, an increase in preparatory fire volume prior to a landing, while, on the other hand, it could reach coastal objectives at greater distances and reduce exclusive dependence on missiles for tactical targets.
Likewise, it is important to emphasize that this new naval gun fits within a global trend in which some navies have explored larger-caliber naval artillery with precision-guided munitions. However, similar programs in the West, such as the U.S. Navy’s 155 mm Advanced Gun System of the Zumwalt class, face significant challenges in terms of costs and logistical viability.
Technological implications
A key point will be determining whether the Chinese system uses conventional high-explosive ammunition or whether it aims at rocket-assisted or GPS-guided projectiles. The true qualitative leap would not lie solely in the caliber, but in its integration with long-range precision munitions. Furthermore, the size of the observed mounting suggests that the system could be intended for large-displacement platforms, such as heavy destroyers or even future amphibious assault ships.
Finally, beyond the formal confirmation of the program, the appearance of this system reinforces a sustained trend: the modernization of China’s surface fleet is not limited to missiles and sensors, but also encompasses traditional capabilities such as naval artillery.
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